I will always watch a pitcher warm up. I have stopped many illegal pitchers during her warm up. I have watched ASA pitchers take a step back during warm-ups, called the coach over, told them about it, and it never happened in the game. I talk to pitchers when I brush the PP off between innings, sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Like everyone else said, I will not guess an illegal pitch. I think that is where coaches have the biggest problem. We know when it is illegal, they also know sometimes, but most of the time they think they saw it, and want us to call it.
High School coaches have no say in Delaware and Maryland about who umps their game, so that isn't an issue. The only college coach in Delaware that used to red line umps was U of D coach, and she likes me, so I haven't had any problems with her.
Like I said in an earlier post, I called more IP in the mens B national this year, than in the 15 years I have been umpiring. Again, if I'm not sure, it won't get called, but if I am sure I will call it, although with someone on base, I really, really, really have to be sure.
I also think they should take away the advancement of the runner and just make it a ball.
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Bob
Del-Blue
NCAA, ASA, NFHS
NIF
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